EP1737587B1 - Method for preparing surface data, method and device for evaluating and managing a strip material quality - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for processing data related to coordinates of a surface, referred to below as surface data, to a method and a device for quality evaluation of strip material, and to a method for quality management of strip materials (see, for example, US Pat US-A-4 211 132 ).

Automatic surface inspection systems are often used when tape-like materials are produced rapidly. These are in particular metals, for example steel, and paper, which are produced in part at speeds of over 30 m / s in the case of paper and more than 20 m / s in the case of steel. These strip materials are usually wound into so-called coils further processed or transported to a customer, which produces end products from the strip material. This can result in substantially identical coils completely different end products, for example, from similar steel coils on the one hand washing machine parts and on the other hand car parts. However, not every coil can be used for each final or intermediate product, since not only the composition of the material but also quality standards are given by the customers of the coils, which must meet the condition, in particular the surface of the strip material for a particular End product can be used. The so-called "coil grading", ie the quality assessment of a strip material, is of decisive importance for the value of a coil and its further processing.

To ensure that a certain quality standard is met, control of the nature and / or surface of the strip material must be made, in particular, for anomalies, prior to winding into coils. A Surface inspection is regularly carried out by specially trained personnel, who either control the surface themselves (ie observe them continuously) or use an automatic surface inspection system. Such systems monitor the surface of the strip material by way of example with cameras, various monitoring principles being known. Also other data that does not necessarily describe anomalies, such as thickness of the material, surface roughness, temperature profile of a heat treatment, etc., can be determined by different measuring methods and assigned to the individual surface points.

For example, from the WO 01/23869 A1 It is known to observe the surfaces with the so-called bright field or the dark field method. From the WO 01/23869 A1 It is also known to correlate the results of these two inspections with one another in order to be able to carry out an improved error detection. Further surface analysis systems and measuring methods for recording material data are also known from the prior art.

All of these systems have the advantage of collecting significantly more data and detecting surface anomalies than the "visual" inspection by an inspector. For example, in the case of an average coil, the visual control usually causes 2 to 5 anomalies per coil, exceptionally more than 20 anomalies. In automatic surface inspection systems, the number of registered anomalies is regularly more than a factor 100 higher for a comparable coil. On the one hand, this is an advantage because significantly more anomalies can be detected, but at the same time it presents the operator with virtually insurmountable hurdles: Due to the large number of registered anomalies (average hundreds to several thousand per coil), the observer can be practical due to the large volume of data no longer distinguish which of the registered anomalies are relevant for achieving a certain quality standard of the end product to be produced from the strip material and which are not. That's the way it is, for example possible that of 2000 registered anomalies only 3 are really relevant to the quality standard to be achieved. However, the observer often has to decide very quickly which quality standard is achievable and which is not, since this is usually done during the production of the strip material, ie before the wound coil is separated from the strip material.

So far, a corresponding machine evaluation of the mass data has been realized only in exceptional cases by special programming. In addition, although the data obtained by the automatic surface inspection were available for further processes, such as business controlling or for the automatic generation of quality certificates, in principle, but due to the enormous amount of data, a meaningful further processing of the data could not be de facto. Typical data processing systems are not readily usable for data which, as in this case, relates to the coordinates of a surface, that is to say have a geometric relationship.

On this basis, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for processing surface data in the evaluation of strip material, which allows an analysis of the present surface data according to freely definable criteria and further processing of the data in a simple manner, and a corresponding method and apparatus for Specify surface inspection and a corresponding quality management procedure.

This object is achieved by a method for processing surface data with the features of claim 1, a method for quality evaluation with the features of claim 19, a method for quality management with the features of claim 20 or 21 and an apparatus for controlling the processing of strip materials with the features of claim 22. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

The inventive method is used for processing data of a strip material, in particular of metal and / or paper tapes, wherein the data in the form of assignable by coordinates of the strip surface records and information about the nature of the tape and / or its surface and / or an optionally include existing anomaly. At least a portion of the data sets are grouped and stored in cells based on predetermined grouping rules whose geometric arrangement on a screen or other visualization medium has a topological similarity to a tape surface, the contents of the cells for further electronic processing and / or association with other cells In particular, the content of a cell may not only be one-dimensional but may contain and provide source data, grouping rules and / or processing formulas. Although once grouped and content-defined cells allow automation in subsequent quality assessments, the accessibility and variability of cells and cell contents is of great practical benefit. A topological similarity between the surface of the tape and the representation of the data helps a user to intuitively manipulate the content of the cell and its links. A topological similarity does not have to mean the true-to-scale mapping of the entire band surface, but may refer to a distorted representation of the whole or part of the surface. It is important that the part just shown corresponds approximately to the constellation of the considered surface points or surface areas on the strip surface.

Particularly preferred according to the invention is the representation of such cells, in particular on a screen, in the form of at least one spreadsheet with a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns. Spreadsheets for displaying and manipulating data are widely used and can be used without programming knowledge.

An anomaly refers to the deviation of the surface from a desired nominal state. In the case of steel strips, this may be, for example, a roll impression or an oil stain. In the case of paper tapes, this can also be a discoloration or a thickening, for example. For paper webs, for example, even further information can be obtained by fluoroscopy, which provides additional information about material anomalies.

The provision of surface data in the form of a spreadsheet allows the grouping and further processing of the surface data in a particularly advantageous, flexible and simple manner. In particular, this offers the advantage that even users who are fundamentally inexperienced in the programming of computers, yet can easily set grouping rules in the form of formulas, as is known from classical spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or similar. Thus, on the one hand, the group of persons preparing or carrying out a surface inspection can be widened and, on the other hand, the surface data, which are obtained by automatic measuring or analysis systems, are available for further processing for a broad range of users in a practicable way for the first time.

Thus, for example, a grouping of the surface data can take place in such a way that a spatial grouping of the data records takes place, which can be spatially assigned to a later end product. For example, in a steel strip from which hoods of an automobile may optionally be made, a grouping rule may be applied which summarizes the surface data corresponding to the part of the surface of a steel strip which later forms the surface of the hood. This group of surface data then includes all the anomalies that have been noticed in this spatial area during the surface inspection of the strip material.

Figuratively speaking, one can use the grouping rules to create a kind of map on the strip material which images the position of the end products to be produced later from the strip material on the strip material. The user of the surface inspection system is therefore provided with a tool with which he can focus his attention on the areas of the strip material that are relevant for the future end product. For the final product irrelevant areas, such as marginal areas of the strip material, which are generally cut off and discarded, so before deciding whether a certain quality standard can be achieved, can be discarded. Mistakes in these areas, no matter how numerous and severe, may in this case be left aside in the decision-making process. Thus, the inventive method enables a data reduction in the evaluation of surface inspection data, which simplifies and accelerates the decision-making in the allocation of quality standards and makes this allocation more reliable and reproducible. In addition, automatic decision-making is significantly simplified and more reliable as soon as the necessary groupings and processing of the cell contents are defined. An adaptation to new conditions or findings is easily possible at any time. It should be noted that an end product in the sense of this invention represents an end product relative to the strip material, that is to say that an end product in the sense of this invention can also be an intermediate which is subjected to further processing steps.

Further, when the surface data is used to make a decision that a certain quality standard can not be met, the system will easily allow the possibility of checking whether other quality standards can be met. This is done, for example, by simply applying a different grouping rule. In the above example, after deciding that the steel strip does not meet the quality standard of a bonnet, for example, by applying the appropriate grouping rule, it could be checked whether one quality standard of another the end product to be produced in the strip material can be fulfilled. For example, it can be checked whether the steel strip is suitable for producing mudguards.

In addition, the processed data can be made available in a simple form to third parties. Thus, in the example above, the data can be made available to a purchaser or processor of the steel strips. It can thus check the quality level assignment by the steel manufacturer, but can also independently apply its own grouping rules to check whether the steel strip can be used with less scrap for another end product.

The creation of grouping rules as well as further processing of the data can be done in a simple manner by programming formulas in individual cells of a spreadsheet, as is known from conventional spreadsheets. In a simple example, grouping can mean, for example, that the sum of the errors in an area that can be assigned to specific spatial coordinates, such as a final product, is formed. Also, the comparison with quality standards to be met can be done by means of such formulas. For example, a formula "if the group comprises less than two type X errors and the surface roughness is less than a value Y" could result in a certain quality standard being assigned only if all relevant groups or a predeterminable proportion of the relevant groups do so Fulfill the formula. Also, a summary comparison of all anomalies in the groups with predetermined limits is possible.

It is also possible to prepare and hold both the surface data of one side of the tape material (the front side) and the other side (the back side) for a tape. This allows for a change of anomalies on one side and on the other side if there is a corresponding distribution of anomalies Front and back, which can lead to the reduction of waste in an advantageous manner.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the surface data comprise a surface roughness, flatness, a refining temperature and / or a thickness of the strip material.

The surface roughness and surface planarity have a decisive importance for the further processing of end products, in particular in the production of steel strips. Under a finishing temperature, for example, for steel strips to understand a annealing temperature that has an influence on the brittleness of the steel. Such tempering temperatures can have a decisive influence on the subsequent further processing of the material and consequently also on the classification into quality standards. The same applies to a thickness of the strip material, in particular an uneven thickness. Thus, inhomogeneities in these parameters can be taken into account in an advantageous manner. Also, further data about the nature of the tape and / or the surface may be included in the surface data according to the invention.

According to the method of the invention, a data set of a surface anomaly comprises at least one anomaly type, anomaly size, and / or an anomaly severity.

• c) Zusammenfassung von Datensätzen, die vorgebbaren Bereichen des Bandmaterials räumlich zugeordnet werden können;
• d) Zusammenfassung von Datensätzen, die gleichartigen Oberflächenanomalien entsprechen;
• e) Zusammenfassung von Datensätzen, die Oberflächenanomalien mit einer Anomaliestärke entsprechen, die innerhalb eines vorgebbaren Wertebereichs der Anomaliestärke liegen.

A type of anomaly is understood to mean an industry-standard classification of the surface anomaly of the strip material, for example rust, an impression, a scratch, a scale lip, a bubble, etc. for steel. The anomaly size can be both relative (smaller than the spatial extent of the group, greater than the spatial extent of the group) or even absolute (eg, 2 square centimeters). Under the Anomaliestärke the amplitude of the deviation from the desired target state of the surface is understood, for example in tinder the degree of blackening or the like. The anomaly intensity thus represents a measure of the deviation from the intended target state of the surface. According to the method according to the invention, the following groupings are carried out by the grouping rules: a a combination of data records which correspond to spatially adjacent and / or correlated surface anomalies; b) Summary of datasets comprising surface anomalies which, alone or with other surface anomalies and / or other data, in particular surface roughness or planarity, permit the assignment of a quality level compared to at least one quality standard, in particular the end product to be made from the strip material , According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the following groupings is additionally performed by the grouping rules:

• c) summarizing data sets that can be spatially assigned to predefinable areas of the strip material;
• d) summary of datasets corresponding to similar surface anomalies;
• e) Summary of datasets corresponding to surface anomalies with an anomaly severity that are within a predeterminable range of values of anomaly severity.

A correlation in the sense of a grouping according to a) is understood to be any kind of mathematical correlation, ie any kind of mathematical operation in which a dependence between two quantities is generated.

When grouping records according to a), spatially adjacent anomalies can be grouped together. For example, this allows the detection of production defects in the production of the strip material, through which adjacent surface anomalies or correlated, such as periodic surface defects occur. This can be done, for example, in the direction of movement of the Bandes be continuous scratches or periodic imprints of the rolling tools.

The grouping according to b) allows the aggregation of data sets that are relevant for compliance or overachievement of a certain quality standard. Here the quality level designates a quality indication generally assigned to the strip material, while the quality standards of this strip material represent independent standards, for example set by the customers. So a quality standard I could represent the quality that must have the surface of a steel sheet in order to serve for the production of engine hoods can. A quality standard II could represent the quality that the surface of a steel sheet must have in order to serve for the production of washing machine parts. For example, the quality level of a particular sheet may then simply be defined as not sufficient to meet quality standard I, but to meet quality standard II. This advantageously allows for the accurate allocation of strip materials to the end products to be produced later on The manufacturers of strip material, as well as on the part of the buyers and processors of these strip materials, who can assign in their operation the optimal use of each strip or coil, in particular minimizing the sloping rejects, or reject this.

The grouping according to b) can represent both a pure spatial grouping in adaptation to the end products to be produced as well as a correlation of surface anomaly data with other parameters such as surface roughness and the like. However, a grouping according to b) is not limited to these examples, but a grouping in adaptation to the quality standards just needed can be done in any possible way.

The grouping of records according to c), for example, allows the summary of surface anomalies in areas that generally represent rejects due to the production process of the strip material and / or the end product, e.g. B. edge or end portions of the tape. Another example is the possibility described above of grouping regions on the strip surface which are assigned to the end product to be produced.

A grouping of records according to d) allows a summary of substantially the same or similar surface anomalies.

For example, a grouping according to e) allows an estimation of defects in the production process of the strip material in which surface anomalies of a certain degree of anomaly are grouped in the manner of a map with contour lines.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, in a grouping according to c) and / or according to d), regions of the strip material are taken into account which can be assigned to at least a partial area of the end product to be produced from the strip material.

This allows, as described above, the formation of a kind of map of the surface, which already contains the position and size of the end products to be produced from the strip material.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, in a grouping according to c) the geometric condition of the strip material, in particular with respect to rejects caused by the production process of the strip material, is mapped.

Thus, errors in areas which are not in the end products to be produced can advantageously be disregarded in the assignment of the quality level, so that the amount of data to be considered is reduced.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the individual cells of the spreadsheet are adaptable to the geometric condition of the strip material and / or the position and / or spatial extent of the anomalies and / or the groups on the strip surface, at least with regard to position and size.

This function allows, for example, a substantially to scale reproduction of the strip material in the spreadsheet, in which the size ratios of the groups on the strip material substantially correspond to the size ratios of the individual cells with each other.

A)

Farbe des Hintergrundes;

B)

Farbe des Zelleninhalts;

C)

Schraffur der Zelle;

D)

Schriftart des Zelleninhalts;

E)

Schrifthervorhebung des Zelleninhalts; oder

F)

Schriftgröße des Zelleninhalts

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the individual cells are in relation to at least one of the following variables:

A)

Color of the background;

B)

Color of the cell contents;

C)

Hatching of the cell;

D)

Font of cell content;

e)

Font highlighting of the cell contents; or

F)

Font size of the cell contents

so adaptable that these quantities A) to F) represent the relevance for the assignment of the quality level of the final product to be made from the strip material.

This means that besides any representation of the group in the cell, for example a sum of the number of surface anomalies present in that cell, there are practically other dimensions (color, hatching, font, etc.) for representing the relevance of the surface data in that cell for the assignment of the quality level is opened. For example, cells that contain groups that prevent adherence to a given quality standard can be displayed in red, bold, and so on, without having to open another cell. For the user results the relevance of this data in a very simple way. Underline highlighting in this context is to be understood in particular as the representation of the cell contents in bold, italic, underlined and / or crossed out text as well as in small caps and / or block letters.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the assignment of the quality level takes place relative to predefinable quality criteria.

On the basis of the above example, this means that the quality level states that a quality standard I is not fulfilled, but a quality standard II is met. In a simple way, the quality level can be present as a list of all fulfilled quality standards.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the assignment of the quality level is absolute.

A simple case of an absolute assignment of the quality level is, for example, the specification of the number of anomalies that have occurred, optionally weighted with the anomaly severity and / or the range of occurrence on the surface of the strip material.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the assignment is based on a formula in the spreadsheet.

For example, the formula may consist of a statement that states: "Assume grade I quality if the number of X type anomalies is less than Y, and if the tempering temperature in all groups is greater than Z." Other formulas, as are customary in common spreadsheets, are possible and according to the invention.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one data set or at least one group is at least partially represented in a cell of a spreadsheet.

This allows the representation of at least one data set or at least one group in each case at least partially in a cell. In each case in parts means that only parts of the data set or the group are displayed, in particular, the user can choose what he wants to be displayed by which record. For example, from each group, the number of surface anomalies registered in this group, the average annealing temperature, the average tape thickness and / or the average surface roughness, etc. of the group or data set can be respectively represented in single cells or in common. Also, the representation of only the number of anomalies of a certain Anomalienart the group or the data set is possible and according to the invention. Again, the representation or a corresponding filtering in the manner of a standard spreadsheet is possible. In the column and / or row headers, for example, the respective coordinates on the strip material or also any information to be adapted by the user can be used.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a plurality of spreadsheets with different representations of the surface data are formed.

This allows the use of different tables (that is, one sheet of a spreadsheet) for custom filtering of the data. Thus, in a table, the numbers of anomalies per group or record in each cell can be made dependent on their position on the surfaces of the tape. In another table, individual records can be listed per line, so that each individual record can be accessed easily and so on.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the spreadsheets can be linked together.

Thus, a link, for example, in the manner of a hyperlink in the Internet, be programmed between different tables, so that, for example, a cell is linked to a group of records with the location of a list of all individual records that the first record of the group or the first record corresponds to the group with a surface anomaly. Any links between the tables are possible and according to the invention.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is possible to specify which parts of the data of a group or of a data record can be displayed in a spreadsheet.

Thus, the amounts of data to be displayed can be considerably reduced if, for example, data that is present (eg the refining temperature) but not of importance for the final product to be produced from the strip material are not displayed. In particular, the data, not shown, should be able to be made visible again at any time, in that the memory structure assigned to the cells contains the entire database and the links that have been made.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is possible to specify in which structure the data of a group or of a data record can be displayed.

Outline here is the structure and the division of the spreadsheet to understand, so for example, the definition in which column which part of the data sets and / or groups is displayed, in which line what is shown, and so on One or more spreadsheets can be configured, each representing data in a form that meets a particular problem. This can be customized by each user, just as it is possible in common spreadsheets.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, representations can be linked to individual cells, which at least partially shows the data of the group linked to this cell or of the data set associated with this cell, in particular at least with a graphical representation of a corresponding surface anomaly.

Thus it is possible, for example, if not all the data of a data set or a group are displayed to realize a kind of magnification function, by means of which all present data is displayed.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the surface data are at least partially obtained from the signals of at least one transducer, preferably a camera, particularly preferably a CCD or CMOS camera.

In particular, the use of CCD cameras with a high temporal and spatial resolution is in the surface control of fast-moving strip materials advantage.

According to a further aspect of the inventive concept, a method for quality assessment of the surface of moving strip materials, in particular of metal or paper tapes is proposed, are prepared in the surface data by the inventive method for the preparation of surface data and on the basis of this data the strip material Quality level, which is preferred relative to one or more specifiable quality standards.

This method according to the invention makes it possible, on the basis of the data prepared as described above, to easily assign a quality level to the strip material already during production or even before further processing of the strip material, which is preferably oriented to predefinable quality standards. Reference will be made to the details and advantages of the inventive method for processing surface data of a strip material set forth above. The invention also allows a customer of tape material to group and evaluate the existing data in a variety of ways until he finds a way to compile data that is relevant to his needs. He can always make adjustments and improvements. The relevant type of compilation found can then each automatically be used without reassessment by an inspector for the evaluation of further coils and / or given to the manufacturer of the strip material in order to automatically obtain the desired quality during the production there, or to sort out coils, which do not have this quality.

According to a further aspect of the inventive concept, a method for quality management of strip materials, in particular metal or paper tapes is proposed in which the quality of the strip material according to the quality assessment method according to the invention is assigned and based on this quality level, the strip material is fed to a certain quality level requiring processing step.

The term quality management is here to be understood as a complex, multi-dimensional process. This does not only include the assignment of a quality level to a particular coil material, although this forms the basis of further quality management. Rather, this term is an iterative Adjustment process over several bands taking into account a plurality of possible end products, possibly also to understand a plurality of possible end products from different manufacturers of different industries, each taking into account the respective industry and manufacturer-specific quality requirements and standards. Such a quality management is effectively possible for the first time using the method according to the invention for the preparation of surface data. This quality management can be done on the one hand on the part of the manufacturer of the strip material, in which a list of the orders is carried out comprehensively to meet the quality standards to be met and the size and requirements of the final products to be produced and a multi-dimensional adaptation is carried out on the basis of the band material to be considered. In this case, a minimization of the Committee takes place while maximizing the maintainable quality standards, for example by maximizing the possible price to be achieved. As parameters of variation here are in particular parameters "outside" of the strip material, ie a different grouping depending on the finished product, as well as parameters "within" a strip material, so for example a shift of the grouping in the longitudinal direction, ie in the direction of movement of the strip material and / or across. Here is not only a shift of all assigned groups possible, but also the shift of individual groups, so that, for example, instead of the next possible distance between two adjacent manufactured end products on the strip material an additional distance is introduced, although at first glance increases the committee, namely this additional piece, but overall reduced the committee because more can be produced to meet the necessary quality standard end products. Another optimization dimension results in several parallel belt productions, where an optimization takes place in each case with several simultaneously produced strip materials. This optimization can also be done within a spreadsheet. A corresponding quality management can also be done on the part of the processor of the strip materials. Here is another rejection of quality management of the coil possible. The advantages and details disclosed above apply in the same way to the method according to the invention for quality management.

1. a) Speichermittel zumindest zum Speichern von nach Koordinaten der Bandoberfläche zuordenbaren Oberflächendaten und/oder einem herzustellenden Endprodukt zuordenbaren Qualitätsstandarddaten,
2. b) Gruppierungsmittel zum Gruppieren der Oberflächendaten anhand vorgebbarer Gruppierungsregeln, wobei eine Gruppe zumindest einen Datensatz der Oberflächendaten umfasst, und
3. c) Vergleichsmittel zum Vergleichen der Gruppen von Oberflächendaten mit mindestens einem vorgebbaren Qualitätsstandard,

umfasst, mit Ein- und Ausgabemitteln, die der Eingabe von Befehlen und der Ausgabe zumindest der Oberflächendaten aus der Auswertungseinheit dienen und die über entsprechende Datenverbindungen mit der Auswertungseinheit verbunden sind, mit Steuermitteln, die über Datenverbindungen zumindest mit der Auswerteeinheit, den Ein- und/oder den Ausgabemitteln verbunden ist, wobei Einund Ausgabemittel so zusammenwirken, dass eine Anzeige und Verarbeitung der Oberflächendaten, sowie eine entsprechende Eingabe der Gruppierungsregeln und/oder von Vergleichsregeln, die zum Vergleich der Gruppen mit mindestens einem Qualitätsstandard in Form mindestens eines Tabellenkalkulationsblattes erfolgen, wobei die Steuermittel aufgrund der durch die Vergleichsmittel gelieferten Vergleichsdaten und/oder aufgrund einer Eingabe eines Benutzers einen bestimmten Verarbeitungsprozess des Bandmaterials zur Herstellung eines Endprodukts auslösen oder das Bandmaterial verwerfen.According to a further aspect of the inventive concept, a device for controlling the processing of strip materials, in particular of metal or paper tapes, is proposed, with an evaluation unit which at least

1. a) storage means at least for storing surface data that can be assigned to coordinates of the strip surface and / or quality standard data that can be assigned to a finished product,
2. b) grouping means for grouping the surface data by means of predefinable grouping rules, wherein a group comprises at least one record of the surface data, and
3. c) comparison means for comparing the groups of surface data with at least one predefinable quality standard,

comprising, with input and output means, which serve the input of commands and the output of at least the surface data from the evaluation unit and which are connected via corresponding data connections to the evaluation unit, with control means which at least with the evaluation unit via data connections, the input and / or the output means are connected, wherein input and output means cooperate such that a display and processing of the surface data, and a corresponding input of the grouping rules and / or comparison rules, which are for comparing the groups with at least one quality standard in the form of at least one spreadsheet, wherein the Control means based on the comparison data supplied by the comparison means and / or due to an input of a user initiate a certain processing process of the strip material to produce a final product or discard the strip material.

In an on-line use of the invention, the control means are preferably connected to a marking device, in particular for coloring, punching or Perforation of a band according to specifiable criteria and / or in places with special anomalies. Thus, the invention can be used flexibly for identification in the production process or at its end, wherein the labeling criteria are easily changed by appropriate editing of the cells of a spreadsheet.

The device is at least suitable for carrying out at least one of the methods according to the invention.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the latter has at least one transducer, preferably a camera, particularly preferably a CCD or CMOS camera, which records surface data, wherein the transducer is connected to the evaluation unit via data connections and transmits the surface data to the evaluation unit.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention evaluation means are formed, which determine surface anomalies on the surface of the strip material based on the surface data.

The details of the methods of the invention disclosed above are directly applicable to the corresponding device details by means corresponding to those carrying out the method features and are directly transferable. A repetition of the features, their advantages and details is therefore omitted here, although they are equally applicable to the device.

Fig. 1

schematisch ein Bandmaterial;

Fig. 2

ein Tabellenkalkulationsblatt;

Fig. 3

ein dem Tabellenkalkulationsblatt aus Fig. 2 entsprechendes Bandmaterial;

Fig. 4

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Tabellenkalkulation mit mehreren Tabellenkalkulationsblättern;

Fig. 5

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer Tabellenkalkulation mit mehreren Tabellenkalkulationsblättern; und

Fig. 6

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing, without the invention being limited to the embodiments shown there. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically a strip material;

Fig. 2

a spreadsheet;

Fig. 3

from the spreadsheet Fig. 2 corresponding strip material;

Fig. 4

a first embodiment of a spreadsheet with multiple spreadsheets;

Fig. 5

a second embodiment of a spreadsheet with multiple spreadsheets; and

Fig. 6

an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a section of a strip material 1, for example, a section of a steel strip 1. It is intended to produce 1 car doors 2 from this steel strip. An outline of a car door 2 to be produced is indicated by way of example on the steel strip 1, which is the area of the steel strip 1 assigned to the car door 2 to be produced, that is to say when viewing the steel strip 1 during production of the strip or before production of the strip Car door 2 is in this case initially a purely virtual assignment, in which in particular no physical marking of the steel strip 1 takes place. The car door 2 has a door area 3 and a window area 4

There is an automatic surface inspection of the steel strip 1, as the result of the coordinates of the surface of the steel strip 1 assignable records are available. Each data set thus represents the surface texture of a surface unit at a position given by the corresponding coordinates on the tape surface. In particular, these data sets comprise the Data from surface anomalies, ie deviations of the actual state of the surface of the steel strip 1 from the desired target state of the surface.

In the evaluation of the surface of the steel strip 1 and in particular also in the determination of a quality level of the material occurring surface anomalies depending on the coordinates of the occurrence of different importance. If, for example, a first surface anomaly 5 occurs in the window area 4, then this is of lesser importance for the assignment of a quality level for the production of car doors 2 from the steel strip 1 than the occurrence of a second surface anomaly 6 in the door area 3. Also of lesser importance is a third one Surface anomaly 7, which occurs in an edge region 8 of the steel strip 1. In conventional surface inspection systems, however, the (virtual) arrangement of the car doors 2 to be made from the steel strip 1 would not be referred to, so that both surface anomalies 5, 6 would be used with equal weighting to determine the quality level. Taking into account the total length of the tape, which can be several hundred to a thousand meters, this leads to a large amount of data which makes a more secure and reproducible allocation of a quality level difficult or practically impossible.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by grouping the data records on the basis of predefinable grouping rules. In the present example, a grouping of the data records that form the door area 3 and a further grouping of the data sets that form the window area 4 can take place. In this case, the data sets which form the door area 3 can be combined in a single group, but it is also possible to form a plurality of groups which each form approximately rectangular subregions of the door area 3.

The data grouped in this way is provided as part of at least one spreadsheet. Such a spreadsheet is exemplary in Fig. 2 shown.

Fig. 2 shows a section of a spreadsheet 9, which in a conventional manner in columns 10 and 11 lines forming cells 12 is divided, which are shown for the sake of clarity only by way of example. In the example in Fig. 2 the surface data of a steel strip 1 are shown, which has been divided into several groups. In the present case, each cell 12 comprises a group of surface data. The size and location of the cells corresponds to the location and extent of the corresponding groups of surface data, as shown by a comparison with the corresponding section of the steel strip 1, which is shown in FIG Fig. 3 is shown.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a section of a steel strip 1. This has first product areas 13 and second product areas 14 which will form the surface of end products to be produced from the steel strip 1. Furthermore, there are third product areas 15, which will belong to the surface of the end product after the production of the end products. In addition, intermediate regions 16 are formed which lie between product regions 13, 14, 15 which will not contribute to the end product, and edge regions 8 which, together with the intermediate regions 16, form the scrap of steel which does not amount to the end product to be produced.

After the automatic surface inspection, there are surface data that can be assigned to the coordinates on the surface of the steel strip 1. In accordance with the method according to the invention for the preparation of surface data, a grouping of the surface data was carried out, wherein a grouping was selected which is adapted to the regions 13, 14, 15 of the end product to be produced. Thus, first groups of surface data adapted to the first product area 13 have been formed. That is, the first groups of surface data include only datasets that can be spatially assigned to the coordinates of the first product region 13. Analogously, second groups of surface data are formed, which can be assigned to the spatial coordinates of the second product area 14, and third groups, spatially the third product areas 15 can be assigned. Furthermore, intermediate groups and edge groups are formed, which can be spatially assigned to the intermediate regions 16 and the edge regions 8.

In the in Fig. 2 Spreadsheet 9 shown, each group is represented in a separate cell. Thus, the first group is shown in each case in a first cell 17, the second group in a second cell 18 and the third group in a third cell 19. Thus, the first product area 13 of the first cell 17, the second product area 14 of the second cell 18 and the third product area 15 to the third cells 19. The intermediate areas 16 correspond to intermediate cells 20, the edge areas 8 edge cells 21. Thus, the spreadsheet 9 is divided according to the division into product areas 13, 14, 15 of the steel strip 1.

The cells 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 in this illustration contain the number of surface anomalies in the respective region 13, 14, 15, 16, 8 of the steel strip 1. The cells 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 of the spreadsheet 9 are colored with different background color, indicating the relevance of the errors contained in the cells 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 for the assignment of a quality level of the steel strip 1. Quality level is understood to mean compliance with certain quality standards required for the production of the final product. The relevance for the quality level determination is determined by predefinable criteria, which can be given in the form of a formula in the spreadsheet as exemplified above. For example, despite the relatively high number of thirty-two surface anomalies in the first cell 17, the relevance of these errors to the final product to be produced is low.

Due to this existing relevance data, it is easily possible to assign the steel strip 1 a quality level. This assignment can be done both automatically and manually by a user. The preparation of the data allows advantageously when the quality level of the steel strip 1 does not allow compliance with a quality standard of an end product to be manufactured, to determine the quality level with respect to another end product to be manufactured. On the one hand, this can be done by applying other relevance criteria, which are adapted to the other end product to be produced. On the other hand, a new grouping with grouping rules is possible, which are adapted, for example, to other product areas 13, 14, 15 and correspondingly to other intermediate areas 16 and edge areas 8. Thus, a quality management is possible in an advantageous manner, in which for each strip material the best possible end product to be produced therefrom can be selected. By comparing a plurality of surface data of different strip materials, errors in the production of the strip materials can be easily detected and resolved faster.

Fig. 4 FIG. 12 shows a first embodiment of a spreadsheet-like view with a first spreadsheet 22, a second spreadsheet 23, a third spreadsheet 24, a fourth spreadsheet 25, and a fifth spreadsheet 26. The first spreadsheet 22 contains a list of all band materials present, each one different Parameters of each strip material such as an identification number, a start time of production, the length, width, thickness and weight of the strip material is listed in individual cells. Other parameters are the steel grade, as well as the intended use, the roughness and the customer of the strip material. Additional parameters can be easily and quickly supplemented in the manner of a spreadsheet by adding rows and / or columns.

The second 23, third 24, fourth 25 and fifth 26 spreadsheets each contain geometric views of the strip material currently selected in the first spreadsheet 22 with the corresponding groupings. In each of the four spreadsheets 23, 24, 25, 26, the relevance of the detected surface anomalies is for another quality standard to be maintained The entire relevance is summarized in the summary cells 27. Here, on the one hand, the number of relevant errors can be read on the basis of the cell content and, on the other hand, on the basis of the staining of the cell, the overall relevance for compliance with the respective quality standard. Im in Fig. 4 In this example, the use corresponding to the third spreadsheet 24 would be the most critical, while the use corresponding to the second 23 and fifth spreadsheets 26 would be less critical. On the basis of the price to be achieved for the individual uses, an optimization of the achievable revenue can be achieved in this way.

Fig. 5 show a second embodiment of a spreadsheet view with a first spreadsheet 22, a second spreadsheet 23, a third spreadsheet 24, a fourth spreadsheet 25, a fifth spreadsheet 26, a sixth spreadsheet 28 and a seventh spreadsheet. Similar to the first embodiment, the first spreadsheet 22 contains a list of all available strip materials with parameters such as an identification number of the inspection record, the production line on which the strip material is produced, the starting time of the production, the duration of the production, the length of the strip material, the cold strip from which the steel strip was made, the roughness of the material, the thickness, width, weight, etc. The third spreadsheet 24, the fourth spreadsheet 25, and the fifth spreadsheet 26 contain representations adapted to the geometric relationships of the strip material , The rows each represent data at a particular longitudinal coordinate, ie in the direction of movement of the strip material, while the columns indicate the transverse coordinate of the strip material. In the third spreadsheet 24, the number of surface anomalies per group of data sets assigned to each cell is indicated, while in the fourth spreadsheet 25 the deviation of the flatness of each group from the mean flatness is indicated. In the fifth spreadsheet 26 is the deviation of the refining temperature each group is represented by an average refining temperature. The sixth spreadsheet 28 presents the summary of the parameters relevant to quality, namely the number of defects, ie the surface anomalies that would prevent classification into a quality standard, as well as the mean flatness of the strip material, the refining temperature, the average width and the quality level resulting therefrom. In the seventh spreadsheet 29, the deviation from the mean width of the strip material is shown dissolved for the longitudinal coordinate of the strip material. The second spreadsheet 23 contains individual representations of surface anomalies. The spreadsheets 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 are interlinked so that, for example, clicking the computer's mouse into one of the cells of the spreadsheets 24, 25, 26 will display the corresponding mappings of the anomalies in that cell Spreadsheets 24, 25, 26 in the second spreadsheet 23 indicates. A click in another column of the first spreadsheet 22 results in the corresponding data of this now selected strip material being displayed in the other spreadsheets 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, and so on.

As shown here, for example, so any spreadsheets with different representations, filtering and / or grouping can be combined with each other. This is done in a simple manner in the manner of a spreadsheet, which can also perform essentially untrained users. The assignment of the quality level thus becomes reproducible and more transparent for third parties.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of an inventive device 30 for controlling the processing of strip materials 1 with an evaluation unit 31. This comprises at least memory means 32, grouping means 33 and comparison means 34. In addition to other possible components, the evaluation unit 31 in the present example comprises evaluation means 35, which are optional. To connect the individual components 32, 33, 34, 35 are data connections 36 trained. These can advantageously represent an addressable bus system, so that via a common data connection 36 all connected components 32, 33, 34, 35, as well as other connected components can be addressed individually addressed. The data connections can be formed both as a wire or at least partially wireless.

Data can be stored in the storage means 32, namely at least surface data and / or quality standard data that can be assigned to an end product to be produced from the strip material 1. The surface data are in the form of datasets that can be assigned to coordinates of the strip surface, each of which includes surface data, in particular a surface roughness, flatness, a refining temperature and / or a thickness of the strip material 1 and possibly the data of at least one surface anomaly present. The storage of further data is possible and according to the invention. The grouping means 33 serve the grouping of surface data on the basis of specifiable grouping rules. Based on the comparison means 34, the surface data is compared with at least one predefinable quality standard. The result of the grouping in the grouping means 33 and the comparison in the comparison means 34 (the comparison data) can be transmitted via the data connection 36 to other components connected to it. Thus, the result of the comparison as well as the grouped surface data can be transferred to the storage means 32 and stored in these.

Furthermore, input means 37 and output means 38 are formed, by means of which commands can be input and at least the surface data can be output, input and output of at least one spreadsheet being made. The input and output means 38 are likewise connected to the data connection 36, so that the data stored in the storage means 32 as well as the data output by the grouping means 33 and comparison means 34 can be used for input and output. When Input means 37 may advantageously be formed a keyboard and / or a computer mouse or the like, as output means 38 in an advantageous manner, in particular a monitor. The input means 37 can also advantageously be used to enter and / or specify the grouping rules and / or the quality standards and / or the comparison rules for comparing the groups with at least one quality standard.

In addition, the device 30 has control means 39 which, depending on the comparative data supplied by the comparison means 34 trigger a certain processing of the strip material 1 to produce a final product or discard the strip material 1 - for example, as unusable. Alternatively or additionally, an intervention by a user can take place here. A specific processing process is to be understood as meaning, in particular, the feeding of the strip material for the production of a specific end product. Thus, depending on the comparison data provided by the comparison means 34, the control means may supply the strip material to production of a first end product (eg fender) or production of a second end product (eg hood). The implementation of the supply to a specific processing process can be carried out by an optional control output 43, in which the control commands of the control means 39 are passed on to appropriate apparatuses.

The surface data can be stored in the storage means 32 or stored there by a data carrier which serves, for example, as accompanying material for the strip material 1. In addition, optionally, the direct connection of the evaluation unit to a transducer 40 via the data link 36 is possible and according to the invention. Via the optical transducer 40, preferably a camera, particularly preferably a CCD or CMOS camera, surface data of a surface 41 of a strip material 1, which optionally moves in a movement direction 42, can be recorded. The discovery of anomalies can be done by the evaluation means 35. The The device shown here may be implemented at least in part in an integrated circuit and / or a computer. The device shown here is preferably suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. The statements made above, in particular for carrying out the evaluation, the allocation of the quality level, the grouping, etc., are expressly referred to. In an on-line application of the system, it is also possible according to the invention, for example, to trigger color markings on the tape when predetermined contents are present in certain cells or to make color markings, punches, perforations or the like at the end of the tape to mark the properties of the tape. For this purpose, the control means 39 are connected to a marking device 44.

Due to the preparation according to the invention of the surface data of a strip material, it is possible for the first time to make reliable statements about the achievable quality of the end product starting from the strip material and from the end product to be produced during production of the strip material and / or the prepared surface data in easy to use in both production planning and quality management.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

steel strip

2

car door

3

door area

4

pane

5

first surface anomaly

6

second surface anomaly

7

third surface anomaly

8th

border area

9

Spreadsheet

10

column

11

row

12

cell

13

first product area

14

second product area

15

third product area

16

intermediate area

17

first cell

18

second cell

19

third cell

20

between cell

21

edge cell

22

first spreadsheet

23

second spreadsheet

24

third spreadsheet

25

fourth spreadsheet

26

fifth spreadsheet

27

Summary cells

28

sixth spreadsheet

29

seventh spreadsheet

30

Device for controlling the processing of strip materials

31

evaluation unit

32

storage means

33

grouping means

34

comparison means

35

evaluation

36

Data Connection

37

input means

38

output means

39

control means

40

transducer

41

surface

42

movement direction

43

control output

44

marker

Claims (25)

1. A method for processing data of a strip material (1), in particular of metal and/or paper strips, wherein the data are present in the form of data records which can be associated with the strip surface according to coordinates and which include information about the condition of the strip and/or the surface thereof and/or an anomaly (5, 6, 7) which may be present,
   wherein at least a part of the data records are grouped and stored in cells (12, 17, 18, 19, 21, 29) on the basis of predeterminable grouping rules, the geometric configuration of these cells having a topological similarity to the strip surface on a screen or another visualization medium, wherein the contents of the cells are available for further electronic processing and/or linking to other cells or other data, wherein in particular the contents of a cell may not be just one-dimensional but may contain and make available source data, grouping rules and/or processing formulae, wherein a data record of an anomaly (5, 6, 7) includes at least one anomaly type, an anomaly size and/or an anomaly severity, characterized in that the following groupings are carried out using the grouping rules:

   - combining data records which correspond to spatially adjacent and/or correlated anomalies (5, 6, 7),

   - combining data records which include anomalies (5, 6, 7) which, alone or with other anomalies (5, 6, 7) and/or with other data, in particular the surface roughness or planarity, enable the assignment of a quality level in comparison to at least one quality standard, in particular of the end product (2) to be produced from the strip material (1).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data are stored and made available in the form of at least one spreadsheet (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29) having a plurality of cells (12, 17, 18, 19, 29, 21) arranged in rows (11) and columns (10).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data comprise material data, color data, values relating to surface roughness, surface planarity, a finishing temperature and/or thickness values of the strip material (1).
4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following groupings is carried out using the grouping rules:

   a) combining data records which can be spatially associated with predeterminable areas (13, 14, 15, 16, 8) of the strip material (1);

   b) combining data records which correspond to identical anomalies (5, 6, 7);

   c) combining data records which correspond to surface anomalies (5, 6, 7) having an anomaly severity which is within a predeterminable value range of the anomaly severity.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that during a grouping operation according to b) and/or according to c), areas (13, 14, 15, 16, 8) of the strip material (1) are taken into account which can be assigned to at least one subarea (13, 14, 15, 16, 8) of the end product (2) to be produced from the strip material (1).
6. The method according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that during a grouping operation according to b), the geometric condition of the strip material (1) is imaged, in particular with respect to scrap areas resulting from the production process of the strip material (1).
7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual cells (12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) of the spreadsheet (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29) can be matched, at least with respect to position and size, to the geometric condition of the strip material (1) and/or the position and/or the spatial extent of the anomalies (5, 6, 7) and/or groups on the strip surface.
8. The method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the individual cells (12, 17, 18, 19, 29, 21) can be matched with respect to at least one of the following variables:

   A) color of the background;

   B) color of the cell contents;

   C) shading of the cell;

   D) font of the cell contents;

   E) font emphasis of the cell contents; or

   F) font size of the cell contents

   so that the variables A) to F) represent the relevance for the assignment of the quality level of the end product (2) to be produced from the strip material (1).
9. The method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the assignment of the quality level takes place relative to predeterminable quality criteria.
10. The method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the quality level is assigned on an absolute basis.
11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the assignment takes place on the basis of a formula in the spreadsheet calculation.
12. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one data record or at least one group is represented at least partially in one cell (12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) of a spreadsheet (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29).
13. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of spreadsheets (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29) are formed with different representations of the surface data.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the spreadsheets (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29) can be linked to one another.
15. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is possible to predetermine which parts of the data of a group or of a data record can be represented in a spreadsheet (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29).
16. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is possible to predetermine the breakdown in which the data from a group or from a data record can be represented.
17. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that individual cells (12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) can be linked to representations which at least partially show the data of the group linked to this cell (12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) or of the data record linked to this cell (12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21), and in particular individual cells can be linked at least to a graphical representation of a corresponding surface anomaly (5, 6, 7).
18. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the surface data are obtained from the signals from at least one measured value recorder, preferably a camera, particularly preferably a CCD camera.
19. A method for quality assessment of the surface of moving strip materials (1), in particular of metal or paper strips, in which surface data are processed using the method according to one of claims 1 to 18, and on the basis of these data a quality level which is preferably relative to one or more predeterminable quality standards is assigned to the strip material (1).
20. A method for quality management of strip materials (1), in particular of metal or paper strips, characterized in that, using the method according to claim 19, a quality level is assigned to the strip material (1), and on the basis of this quality level the strip material (1) is supplied to a processing step which requires a specific quality level.
21. A method for quality management of strip materials (1), in particular of metal or paper strips, characterized in that, using the method according to one of claims 1 to 18, the surface data are processed, and on the basis of these surface data the production process and/or the process of processing the strip material (1) is configured so that the least possible scrap occurs during the production of an end product (2) from the strip material (1).
22. An apparatus (30) for controlling the processing of strip materials (1), in particular of metal or paper strips,
    having an evaluation unit (31) which comprises at least

    a) storage means (32) at least for storing surface data to be associated with the strip surface (41) according to coordinates and/or quality standard data to be associated with an end product (2) to be produced,

    b) grouping means (33) for grouping the surface data on the basis of predeterminable grouping rules, wherein a group includes at least one data record of the surface data and

    c) comparison means (34) for comparing the groups of surface data to at least one predeterminable quality standard,

    having input means (37) and output means (38) which are used for inputting commands and at least outputting the surface data from the evaluation unit (31), and which are connected to the evaluation unit (31) via corresponding data links (36),
    having control means (39) which are connected via data links (36) at least to the evaluation unit (31), the input means (37) and/or the output means (38),
    wherein the input means (37) and the output means (38) interact so that display and processing of the surface data take place, as well as a corresponding input of the grouping rules and/or of comparison rules for comparison of the groups to at least one quality standard in the form of at least one spreadsheet (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29),
    wherein the control means (39) initiate a specific process for processing the strip material (1) in order to produce an end product (2) or to reject the strip material (1) on the basis of the comparison data supplied by the comparison means (34) and/or on the basis of a user input, characterized in that the apparatus is suitable and intended for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 21.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the control means (39) are connected to a marking device (44), in particular for coloring or perforating a strip material (1) on the basis of predeterminable criteria and/or at locations with particular anomalies.
24. The apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the apparatus includes at least one measured value recorder (40), preferably a camera, particularly preferably a CCD or CMOS camera, which records surface data, wherein the measured value recorder (40) is connected to the evaluation unit (31) via data links (36) and transmits the surface data to the evaluation unit (31).
25. The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that evaluation means (35) are provided which detect surface anomalies (5, 6, 7) on the surface (41) of the strip material (1) on the basis of the surface data.

Images